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Jones at SouthamptonThink of great Caribbean combinations and you think of Hall and Griffith, The Three Ws, Greenidge and Haynes, Ambrose and Walsh, Bob Marley and The Wailers... Fuller and Jones?

It has a bit of a ring to it and, given a fair wind, that partnership could become one of the very best to grace Stoke City's recent history.

"We will see how that goes," said Jones modestly. "I have worked with Ricardo before at Southampton, so maybe we can strike a partnership to help take this club forward.

"It's nice being with him again because on and off the pitch we have an understanding. We are good friends and, hopefully, that will tell in our game.

"He's a typical Caribbean striker," said Jones of his Jamaican play-mate.

"He works hard and applies his skill to the game."

Jones arrived at the Britannia after a year in which others, Liverpool included by all accounts, were interested in his signature.

But only Tony Pulis, it seems, consistently chased his man before finally snaring him this week.

"Quite a few managers were trying to get me," he said, "but it's nice to know one manager kept going.

"It's important to know that because it gives a player confidence in himself and confidence in his manager.

"I worked with him five years ago, so I know what he is like and I know what he expects.

"Of course he expects you to work hard. But in football, to work hard is the only way to get your rewards."

Jones scored three goals in 13 appearances first time around at Stoke during a short loan spell in the first half of 2005.

He's spent a few hours in the gym since then, judging by his change in appearance, and his reputation has grown even longer than his hair since that first coming at Stoke.

"I was young back then and just breaking into the league," recalled the 25-year-old.

"It was a good experience for me here and I've come on leaps and bounds since then.

"The club has changed a lot, but I remember the stadium and the supporters being very good."

Those fans are ready to take another new striker to their heart and Jones is happy to be that man.

"Firstly I have to do it for the team and then the crowd will see the end result for the team," he said.

His three years at Sunderland included a player-of-the-year award and plenty of plaudits from the Wearside faithful, but establishing the same rapport with manager Steve Bruce would never prove quite so easy.

Bruce couldn't wait to cash in this summer, it seemed, and he has since expressed his frustration at failing to coax the best out of Jones.

Jones himself is keen to sidestep a public slanging match, however, and diplomatically turned the other cheek after hearing Bruce's comments for himself on Sky.

"To be quite honest, when I went in to say my goodbyes, I just wished them all the best," he explained.

"I am not concentrating on what Steve had to say or is saying. I'm just focused on what I have to do here.

"I had a good three years there and I want to thank the club and the staff for what they did.

"Now I just hope the club becomes an even bigger club in the future."

Meanwhile, on an ESPN exclusive with Mark Lomas, Jones former Sunderland teammate Fraizer Campbell said when asked: "Now Kenwyne Jones left the club to join Stoke on Wednesday - does that improve your chances of getting regular first-team football"

Campbell replied: "We've got a good, tight squad here and I was good friends with him, he's a good player and I hope he does well."

"Every time a player leaves the club you might miss them a little bit but at the same time it gives other people the opportunity to step up and show what they're made of and hopefully we will get a few people stepping up to the plate and doing well, ended Frazier."

Craddock wary of Kenwyne Jones threat.

Former Stoke defender Jody Craddock is determined to stop Kenwyne Jones battering down the Wolves defence for the third game running.

The centre-half goes head-to-head with Jones tomorrow when City's £8m club record signing is expected to make his debut.

The 35-year-old won practically every aerial challenge when the Potters visited Molineux last season, but is expecting to face an even tougher battle now Stoke have prised Jones away from Sunderland.

Wolves know all about Jones. The 25-year-old striker scored twice against them in Sunderland's 5-2 win at the Stadium of Light last September, when Craddock was on the bench.

The veteran played 90 minutes of the return match at Molineux when Jones scored Sunderland's opener before Wolves came back to win 2-1.

Craddock said: "He's certainly a handful and he's a player we've got to look out for.

"It could be down to me to mark him, but whatever happens, I need to concentrate.

"If I get my game right, I'm confident I can deal with these players.

"Making his debut, he's going to want to make a quick impression and I'm going to have to be at my best against him."

Craddock spent the first month of Stoke's 2007/2008 Championship promotion season on loan at the Britannia Stadium and is an avid admirer of the job Tony Pulis is doing at City.

He believes Wolves, who are in their second successive season in the Premier League, can emulate Stoke, who are beginning their third.

He said: "Stoke have done well – they maintained their position in the Premier League and they have stepped it up.

"Now they have proved they mean business by signing a player like Kenwyne Jones.

"They want to stay in the Premier League and, by buying players like that, they're making sure they do.

"That's what we want to follow at Wolves by staying up again this season and attracting better players – that's how it's done.

"You need to build a good foundation and that's what they've done."

There was little entertainment in City's goalless draw at Molineux last season in a game more notable for a succession of Rory Delap long throws than any goalmouth action.

Craddock added: "I don't know if it's going to be any prettier – maybe not of Rory Delap is fit with his throws.

"We know how they play – they're big and strong, so it's a very tough opener for us, but it's one that we should relish.

"We have to match Stoke's brute force and try to play our game because we know we can pass the ball very well."